Mt Maunganui bush burns
PA Auckland Contestants at Mount Maunganui’s annual mountain race found themselves burned out in Saturday’s event, but not from physical exhaustion. Native bush at the top of the 238 metre mountain by the sea caught fire just before the race was due to begin at -3.30 p.m. on Saturday.
The bushclad mountaintop was engulfed in flames and smoke. Would-be runners and hundreds of holidaymakers watched as fire fighters with sacks beat the flames. They had difficulty because of poor access and lack of water, said Tauranga’s senior station offi£or, Bob Williams. A^'’helicopter with a
monsoon bucket, called from Rotorua to douse the fire with sea water, was still working in the early evening. Mr Green said clouds of smoke made it impossible to see the extent of damage to the bush. While 47 runners missed the main race, others had already taken part in the fun run<o the mountaintop and balk be-
fore the fire started. A junior race held on neighbouring Mount Drurey went off without a hitch. Mount Maunganui police and the Tauranga Fire Service were investigating the cause of the fire. The race was postponed until yesterday. The fire broke out again for a time. f
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Press, 29 December 1986, Page 8
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203Mt Maunganui bush burns Press, 29 December 1986, Page 8
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